South Devon Railway - April 25, 2022
GWR 3205 is a member of the 2251 class or small locomotives locomotives introduced in 1930 for working freight trains, replacing the ageing locomotives the GWR inherited from the Welsh Railway companies it had absorbed in 1923. The 2251 Class became the last 0-6-0 tender locomotives to be built for service in the United Kingdom, this locomotive being built in 1946.
After nationalisation, the 2251 Class also found employment on other lighter duties on the Western Region of BR and 3205 eventually found herself on Somerset & Dorset metals after that line was taken over from the Southern Region.
After withdrawal in 1965 it was moved to Buckfastleigh, the second locomotive to arrive for preservation.
From 1967 until 1987 it operated on the Severn Valley Railway and hauled that line's first train when the line reopened in 1970, before moving to the West Somerset Railway in 1988, where it stayed for ten years.
3205 returned to Buckfastleigh in 1998, wearing Great Western green livery, where it operated until 2006 where it was withdrawn pending overhaul. 3205's overhaul was completed in 2010 and was painted BR unlined green livery.
This was lined out a few years later, before it was repainted back into Great Western green livery.
Despite its previous overhaul being an extensive one, 3205 was withdrawn from service in Jun 2017 requiring an "almost new" boiler alongside a new cylinder block which is expected to cost between £300,000 & £400,000.
